Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 2-029 Sunday 10 Feb 2002

Reading: PSALM 99 – HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

(From ‘Encounter with God’ Bible Reading Notes)

‘Be still for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here; bow down before him now, with reverence and fear.’

What appears to be a threefold refrain sets the tone for today’s psalm. At the end of verses 3, 5 and 9 the reader is reminded that the Lord whom he is going up to Jerusalem to worship is holy. Clearly this needed to be said in those days of Temple worship, just as it needs to be said today. We do not lightly trip into God’s presence as if we are going to a place of entertainment. Take the children by all means; look forward to meeting friends and enjoying being together in God’s house; sing heartily your praises and thank him for his goodness to you over the past week, but never forget that he is a holy God.

Maybe it was easier for the average worshipper in Old Testament times, because he was never allowed to see beyond the curtain to where the two cherubim gazed down at the top of the ark of the Covenant, the place where the Lord was thought to be located, though, of course, the Lord was never localised, because the whole world was his. This gave a proper sense of mystery in worship which we do not recognise today.

But we can look back to our history to the heroes of Scripture, as the psalmist did (v 6). Men such as Moses, Aaron and Samuel, though frail themselves and needing God’s forgiveness more than once (v 8), did speak with God and heard his voice. (See Exod 3:6; 33:11; 1 Sam 3:19-21) They can be our examples as we follow in the footsteps of their obedience to God’s Word (v 7).

This psalm is unusual in the way it mingles description of God (he sits, he is holy) with prayer addressed to him (your great name, you answered them). It goes to show that theology and prayer should properly be intertwined.

‘O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness … ‘ (JSBMaxwell, 1811-75)

– Bishop John B Taylor

Copyright Scripture Union, 2002

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